As a matter of fact, there are distinct differences between tantra meditation and yoga meditation. They have different premises and the methods of practice are also different. Tantric meditation is one of the most important techniques taught by a tantra teacher as he is helping his students to understand the divine nature of their sexuality, and to overcome sexual inhibitions.

However, it does not necessarily involve sex. Tantric meditation is indeed an advanced method of delving within, connecting with the tantric deities and deriving understanding and power from them, and from the Cosmos.

Once you become adept at tantric meditation, your mind and body become vibrantly attuned to your natural desires – much like a perfectly tuned violin or piano. You are able to resonate to your partner’s own vibrations. When this happens, you will understand what it means to be in a state of constant readiness to engage in intimacy. Also, you will have overcome all your misconceptions and fears about physical intimacy.

In order to you to learn this form of meditation, your tantra master will gradually expose you to various mantras and mind states. The blockages that prevent the free flow of tantra energy between your chakras dissolve, leaving a clear path for the energy to flow.

These are the first steps towards unleashing of the kundalini, but it is still only an initial stage. Kundalini awakening must happen only once the mind and body have been sufficiently trained by tantra meditation. Nevertheless, you are tapping into this powerful source of energy as you practice this form of meditation.

A person whose mind has been trained by tantra meditation will be able to engage in physical intimacy for virtually unlimited periods, because the old concepts of what sex and orgasm are have been left behind. A sexual encounter between two partners who have attained proficiency in this kind of meditation takes place in what could be termed a trance.

Actually, it is nothing but a very high form of awareness and involvement with each other. There is no agenda, and there are no goals to reach. The only purpose is to stay in the moment in a state of complete worship of each other.

It should now be clear that tantric meditation and yoga meditation are very different concepts. While yogic meditation can bring about peace of mind and significantly improved health, the tantra version goes far beyond this and actually taps into one’s primeval energy. It is one of the most healing and exalting experiences that a human being is capable of. There are also various forms of tantra meditation, which I will discuss at a later stage.

As any tantra teacher must, I will begin by reiterating that awakening the kundalini must not be attempted without proper guidance from an accredited and reputable tantra master. The forces that are unleashed are not something which the uninitiated can comprehend or control. That said, kundalini awakening is definitely a major and desirable step for the serious student of tantra.

As stated, the tantric student must receive and understand the specific techniques and mantras for the purpose of awakening the kundalini. When the tantric master is satisfied that his student is fully prepared, the student must then seek a period of seclusion. This period will also involve a strictly controlled diet and abstinence from all sexual activity. This is only on a temporary basis, but it is nevertheless very essential.

Even after the initial seclusion period, the serious student of the tantric arts must seek to follow up with this practice at least twice a year. The prescribed period of seclusion is from three to nine days, but the student can start with a single day.

The idea here is not to ‘renounce the world’ or practice at becoming an ascetic. The purpose of seeking seclusion is to condition the mind and body for the unleashing of kundalini energy. If the mind and body are not prepared for this, there can be grave and irreversible consequences, including but not limited to mental disturbance and repercussions on the metabolism.

Silence is the key concept during this seclusion period. The student is not required to meditate, but simply to allow the mind to attain a high degree of focus. By staying away from all external stimuli, the mind finds its own equilibrium and opens to the answers that are to follow. Needless to say, the environment within the area of seclusion must be bereft of all distractions such as mobile phones, television, etc.

In ancient tantra, silence has always been recognized as a powerful force of transformation and enlightenment. By embracing silence, we are cutting down on communication with the outside world. In yogic terms, silence is simply a state in which one does not initiate or respond to any attempt at communication. With sufficient practice, this silence can be practiced in the midst of day-to-day life as well, but this is not possible for those who have not attained mastery over the art of silence.

The diet to be followed during this period of silence must consist of bland, boiled food. Fried, spicy food is to be avoided, as this kind of fare disrupts the body’s natural functioning and adds to mental turmoil. It is advisable to stick to a strict vegetarian fare during this period.

Simple yogic exercises are permitted and even desirable during this period, but they must be performed at a leisurely pace. Nothing must occur to raise the body temperature beyond the normal limit, or to create rushes of blood to the brain. The student learns to be comfortable in silence and in the absence of productive activity. He or she learns simply to be.

After this period of silence and seclusion, the student returns to the tantra teacher in full readiness for the tantric instructions that are to follow. Only in the tranquil and receptive state that is a by-product of seclusion and silence can the student then embark on the task of kundalini awakening.

When most people think of tantra, they usually imagine that it is all about advanced sex. While sex is certainly a component of the tantric science, there is a lot more to it than that. Let me tell you what tantra sadhana involves.

Sadhana is a term that describes a spiritual path which has a specific objective or goal. A sadhu or sadhika is a man or woman pursuing a spiritual path that leads to a higher degree of spiritual realization. Since tantra is such a spiritual path, one who pursues it can expect to encounter enlightenment and liberation from earthly constraints of mind and body.

Tantra sadhana is therefore a spiritual pursuit in the classic sense of the tradition of ‘Bhakti’. Sexual techniques are certainly involved, but only in the context of liberation from physical and spiritual repression. Overcoming these repressions plays a big role in tantra sadhana so that complete self-realization becomes possible.

A person embarked on the path of tantra sadhana under an acknowledged tantra teacher practices specific meditation techniques, learns and recites prescribed tantra mantras (chants) and engages in tantra deity worship (puja). In the tantric arts, the quintessential deities are the tantra goddess Shakti and the traditional tantric god Shiva. The power, love and passion that these two deities embody are the basis of all tantric practices.

Learning tantra under a gifted tantra master is therefore not a trivial pursuit of sexual thrills, but involves understanding a whole philosophy, science and life path. Ancient tantra was conceived by Indian sadhus who studied humans and how they fit into both Nature and the cosmic scheme of things. The techniques they formulated are geared towards helping men and women to get body, mind and soul in perfect synch with Nature and the cosmos.

A student of tantra can be said to be on the path of tantra sadhana when he or she begins to practice the various rituals and techniques prescribed by their tantra master. This is the spirit of bhakti and sadhana, which requires the relinquishing of the ego and an attitude of worship in order to achieve spiritual awakening. In tantra, this worshipful attitude manifests in tantra puja, which is a system of ritualistic worship of the deities.

In tantra for couples sessions, the students gain a better understanding of the tantric deities Shiva and Shakti. As the couple progresses in their instructions under their tantra teacher, these deities themselves become the subjects and objects of intimacy – including sexual intimacy. Only when the couple reaches this level of awareness does tantric sex begin to have real meaning.

In short, the glories and joys of tantric sex are a gift that those who are on the path of tantra sadhana. This gift does not come apart from tantra sadhana. This is why this ancient science of life and love must essentially be learned under the expert tutelage of an experienced tantra teacher, or guru.